£25 


y>»  - S e v rw . w ay  1 'a  n ci  f r. 


i 


The  Moral  Dignity  of  the  Missionary 
Enterprise. 

A 

SERMON 


DELIVERED  BEFORE 


2Thc  Boston  Baptist  jForrifiu  fHtssfon  Sonets 


on  the  Evening  of  October  26, 


AXD  BEFORE 


SFfte  Salem  Bthle  ^Translation  Society 


on  the  Evening  of  November  4,  1823. 


By  F.  WAYLAND,  jux. 

PASTOR  OF  THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH  IN  EOSTON. 


Third  Edition. 


boston: 

JAMES  LORING,  2 CORNHILIn 

1S24. 


* 


‘ 

§ 

1 , 


SERMON. 


Matthew  xiii.  38. 

THE  FIELD  tS  THE  WORLD. 


Philosophers  have  speculated  much  concerning  a 
process  of  sensation,  which  has  commonly  been  denomina- 
ted the  emotion  of  sublimity.  Aware  that,  like  any  other 
simple  feeling,  it  must  be  incapable  of  definition,  they  have 
seldom  attempted  to  define  it ; but,  content  with  remarking 
the  occasions  on  which  it  is  excited,  have  told  us  that  it 
arises  in  general  from  the  contemplation  of  whatever  is  vast 
in  nature,  splendid  in  intellect,  or  lofty  in  morals.  Or, 
to  express  the  same  idea  somewhat  varied,  in  the  language 
of  a critic  of  antiquity,*  “that  alone  is  truly  sublime  of 
which  the  conception  is  vast,  the  effect  irresistible,  and 
the  remembrance  scarcely  if  ever  to  be  erased.” 

But  although  philosophers  alone  have  written  about  this 
emotion,  they  are  far  from  being  the  only  men  who  have 
felt  it.  The  untutored  peasant,  when  he  has  seen  the 
autumnal  tempest  collecting  between  the  hills,  and  as  it 
advanced,  enveloping  in  misty  obscurity,  village  and  ham- 
let, forest  and  meadow,  has  tasted  the  sublime  in  all  its 


• Longinus,  Sec.  VII. 


4 


■reality ; and  whilst  the  thunder  has  rolled  and  the  light- 
ning flashed  around  him,  has  exulted  in  the  view  of  nature 
moving  forth  in  her  majesty.  The  untaught  sailor  boy, 
listlesly  hearkening  to  the  idle  ripple  of  the  midnight 
wave,  when  on  a sudden  he  has  thought  upon  the  unfath- 
omable abyss  beneath  him  and  the  wide  waste  of  waters 
around  him  and  the  infinite  expanse  above  him,  has  enjoyed 
to  the  full  the  emotion  of  sublimity,  whilst  his  inmost  soul 
has  trembled  at  the  vastness  of  its  own  conceptions.  But 
why  need  I multiply  illustrations  from  nature  ? Who  does 
not  recollect  the  emotion  he  has  felt  whilst  surveying  aught 
in  the  material  world  of  terror  or  of  vastness? 

And  this  sensation  is  not  produced  by  grandeur  in  ma- 
terial objects  alone.  It  is  also  excited  on  most  of  those 
occasions  in  which  we  see  man  tasking  to  the  uttermost, 
the  energies  of  his  intellectual  or  moral  nature.  Through 
the  long  lapse  of  centuries,  who  without  emotion  has  read 
of  Leonidas  and  his  three  hundred’s  throwing  themselves 
as  a barrier  before  the  myriads  of  Xerxes,  and  contending 
unto  death  for  the  liberties  of  Greece  ! 

But  we  need  not  turn  to  classic  story  to  find  all  that  is 
great  in  human  action ; we  find  it  in  our  own  times  and  in 
the  history  of  our  own  country.  Who  is  there  of  us  that 
even  in  the  nursery  has  not  felt  his  spirit  stir  within  him, 
when  with  childlike  wonder  he  has  listened  to  the  story  ot 
Washington?  And  although  the  terms  of  the  narrative 
were  scarcely  intelligible,  yet  the  young  soul  kindled  at 
the  thought  of  one  man’s  working  out  the  deliverance  of  a 
nation.  And  as  our  understanding,  strengthened  by  age, 
was  at  last  able  to  grasp  the  detail  of  this  transaction,  we 
saw  that  our  infantile  conceptions  had  fallen  far  short  of  its 
grandeur.  O if  an  American  citizen  ever  exults  in  the 

o 

contemplation  of  all  that  is  sublime  in  human  enterprise, 
it  is  when,  bringing  to  mind  the  men  who  first  conceived 
the  idea  of  this  nation’s  independence,  he  beholds  them 
estimating  the  power  of  her  oppressor,  the  resources  of  her 
citizens,  deciding  in  their  collected  might  that  this  nation 
should  be  free,  and  through  the  long  years  of  trial  that 
ensued,  never  blenching  from  their  purpose,  but  freely 


5 


redeeming  the  pledge  they  had  given,  to  consecrate  to  it 
“ their  lives,  their  fortunes,  and  their  sacred  honour.  ” 

“Patriots  have  toil'd,  and  in  their  country’s  cause 
Bl*  d nobly,  and  their  deeds  as  they  deserve 
Htceive  piMud  recompense.  We  give  in  charge 
Their  names  to  the  sweet  lyre.  The  historic  muse, 

Proud  of  her  treasure,  marches  with  it  down 
To  latest  times;  and  sculpture  in  her  turn 
Gives  bond,  in  stone  and  ever-tl  uring  brass. 

To  guard  them  and  immortalize  her  trust.'* 

It  is  not  in  the  field  of  patriotism  alone  that  deeds  have 
been  achieved  to  which  history  has  awarded  the  palm  of 
moral  sublimity.  There  have  lived  men,  in  whom  the  name 
of  patriot  has  been  merged  in  that  of  philanthropist ; who, 
looking  with  an  eye  of  compassion  over  the  face  of  the  earth, 
have  felt  for  the  miseries  of  our  race,  and  have  put  forth 
their  calm  might  to  wipe  off  one  blot  from  the  marred  and 
stained  escutcheon  of  human  nature,  to  strike  oft'  one  form 
of  suffering  from  the  catalogue  of  human  wo.  Such  a man 
was  Howard.  Surveying  our  world  like  a spirit  of  the 
blessed,  he  beheld  the  misery  of  the  captive,  he  heard  the 
groaning  of  the  prisoner.  His  determination  was  fixed. 
He  resolved  single  handed  to  guage  and  to  measure  one 
form  of  unpitied,  unheeded  wretchedness,  and,  bringing  it 
out  to  the  sunshine  of  publick  observation,  to  work  its  utter 
extermination.  And  he  well  knew  what  this  undertaking 
would  cost  him.  He  knew  what  he  had  to  hazard  from  the 
infection  of  dungeons,  to  endure  from  the  fatigues  of  inhos- 
pitable travel,  and  to  brook  from  the  insolence  of  legalized 
oppression.  He  knew  that  he  was  devoting  himself  upon 
the  altar  of  philanthropy,  and  he  willingly  devoted  himself. 
He  had  marked  out  his  destiny,  and  he  hastened  forward 
to  its  accomplishment,  with  an  intensity  “which  the  nature 
of  the  human  mind  forbade  to  be  more,  and  the  character 
of  the  individual  forbade  to  be  less.  ”*  Thus  he  commenced 
a new  era  in  the  history  of  benevolence.  And  hence  the 
name  of  Howard  will  be  associated  with  all  that  is  sublime 
in  mercy,  until  the  final  consummation  of  all  things. 

* Foster’s  Essay. 


6 


Such  a man  is  Clarkson,  who,  looking  abroad  beheld 
the  sufferings  of  Africa,  and  looking  at  home,  saw  his 
country  stained  with  her  blood.  We  have  seen  him,  laying 
aside  the  vestments  of  the  priesthood,  consecrate  himself  to 
the  holy  purpose  of  rescuing  a continent  from  rapine  and 
murder,  and  of  erasing  this  one  sin  from  the  book  of  his 
nation’s  iniquities.  We  have  seen  him  and  his  fellow 
philanthropists  for  twenty  years  never  waver  from  their 
purpose.  We  have  seen  them  persevere  amidst  neglect 
and  obloquy  and  contempt  and  persecution,  until  the  cry 
of  the  oppressed  having  roused  the  sensibilities  of  the  na- 
tion, the  “ Island  Empress”  rose  in  her  might,  and  said  to 
this  foul  traffick  in  human  flesh,  Thus  far  shalt  thou  go 
and  no  farther. 

It  will  not  be  doubted  that  in  such  actions  as  these, 
there  is  much  which  may  truly  be  called  the  moral  sublime. 
If,  then,  we  should  attentively  consider  them,  we  might 
perhaps  ascertain  what  must  be  the  elements  of  that  enter- 
prise, which  may  lay  claim  to  this  high  appellation.  It 
cannot  be  expected  that  on  this  occasion  we  should  analyze 
them  critically.  It  will,  however,  we  think  be  found,  upon 
examination,  that  to  that  enterprise  alone  has  been  awarded 
the  meed  of  sublimity,  of  which  the  conception  was  vast, 
the  execution  arduous,  and  the  means  to  be  employed 
simple  but  efficient.  Were  not  the  object  vast,  it  could 
not  arrest  our  attention.  Were  not  its  accomplishment 
arduous,  none  of  the  nobler  energies  of  man  being  tasked 
in  its  execution,  we  should  see  nothing  to  admire.  Were 
not  the  means  to  that  accomplishment  simple,  our  whole 
conception  being  vague,  the  impression  would  be  feeble. 
Were  they  not  efficient,  the  intensest  exertion  could  only 
terminate  in  failure  and  disgrace. 

And  here  we  may  remark,  that  wherever  these  elements 
have  combined  in  any  undertaking,  publick  sentiment  has 
generally  united  in  pronouncing  it  sublime,  and  history  has 
recorded  its  achievements  among  the  noblest  proofs  of  the 
dignity  of  man.  Malice  may  for  a while  have  frowned, 
and  interest  opposed ; men  who  could  neither  grasp  what 
was  vast,  nor  feel  what  was  morally  great,  may  have  ridi- 


7 


culcd.  But  all  this  has  soon  passed  away.  Human  nature 
is  not  to  be  changed  by  the  opposition  of  interest  or  the 
laugh  of  folly.  There  is  still  enough  of  dignity  in  man  to 
respect  what  is  great,  and  to  venerate  what  is  benevolent 
The  cause  of  man  has  at  last  gained  the  suflVages  of  man. 
It  has  advanced  steadily  onward,  and  left  ridicule  to  won- 
der at  the  impotence  of  its  shaft,  and  malice  to  weep  over 
the  ineflicacy  of  its  hate. 

And  we  bless  God  that  it  is  so.  It  is  cheering  to  ob- 
serve, that  amidst  so  much  that  is  debasing,  there  is  still 
something  that  is  ennobling  in  the  character  of  man.  It  is 
delightful  to  know  that  there  are  times  when  his  morally  be- 
dimmed eye  “beams  keen  with  honour;”  that  there  is  yet 
a redeeming  spirit  within  him,  which  exults  in  enterprises 
of  great  pith  and  moment.  We  love  our  race  the  better 
for  every  such  fact  we  discover  concerning  it,  and  bow  with 
more  reverence  to  the  dignity  of  human  nature.  We  re- 
joice that,  shattered  as  has  been  the  edifice,  there  yet  may 
be  discovered  now  and  then  a massive  pillar,  and  here  and 
there  a well  turned  arch,  which  remind  us  of  the  symmetry 
of  its  former  proportions,  and  the  perfection  of  its  original 
structure. 

Having  paid  this  our  honest  tribute  to  the  dignity  of 
man,  we  must  pause,  and  shed  a tear  over  somewhat  which 
reminds  us  of  any  thing  other  than  his  dignity.  Whilst 
the  general  assertion  is  true,  that  he  is  awake  to  all  that 
is  sublime  in  nature,  and  much  that  is  sublime  in  morals, 
there  is  reason  to  believe  that  there  is  a single  class  of  ob- 
jects, whose  contemplation  thrills  all  heaven  with  rapture, 
at  which  he  can  gaze  unmelted  and  unmoved.  The  pen  of 
inspiration  has  recorded,  that  the  cross  of  Christ,  whose 
mysteries  the  angels  desire  to  look  into,  was  to  the  tasteful 
and  erudite  Greek,  foolishness.  And  we  fear  that  cases 
very  analogous  to  this  may  be  witnessed  at  the  present  day. 
But  why,  my  hearers,  should  it  be  so  ? Why  should  so 
vast  a dissimilarity  of  moral  taste  exist  between  seraphs 
who  bow  before  the  throne,  and  men  who  dwell  upon  the 
footstool  ? Why  is  it  that  the  man,  whose  soul  swells  w ith 
ecstasy  whilst  viewing  the  innumerable  suns  of  midnight. 


8 


feels  no  emotion  of  sublimity  when  thinking  of  their  Cre- 
ator? Why  is  it  that  an  enterprise  of  patriotism  presents 
itself  to  his  imagination  beaming  with  celestial  beauty, 
whilst  the  enterprise  of  redeeming  love  is  without  form  or 
comeliness?  Why  should  the  noblest  undertaking  of  mer- 
cy, if  it  only  combine  among  its  essential  elements  the 
distinctive  principles  of  the  gospel,  become  at  once  stale, 
flat,  and  unprofitable  ? When  there  is  joy  in  heaven  over 
one  sinner  that  repenteth,  why  is  it  that  the  enterprise  of 
proclaiming  peace  on  earth,  and  good  will  to  man,  fraught, 
as  it  would  seem,  with  more  than  angelick  benignity,  should 
to  many  of  our  fellow  men  appear  worthy  of  nothing  better 
than  neglect  or  obloquy? 

The  reason  for  all  this  we  shall  not  on  this  occasion 
pretend  to  assign.  We  have  only  time  to  express  our  re- 
gret that  such  should  be  the  fact.  Confining  ourselves 
therefore  to  the  bearing  which  this  moral  bias  has  upon  the 
missionary  cause,  it  is  with  pain  we  are  obliged  to  believe, 
that  there  is  a large  and  most  respectable  portion  of  our 
fellow  citizens,  for  many  of  whom  we  entertain  every  sen- 
timent of  personal  esteem,  and  to  whose  opinions  on  most 
other  subjects  we  bow  with  unfeigned  deference,  who  look 
with  perfect  apathy  upon  the  present  system  of  exertions 
for  evangelizing  the  heathen ; and  we  have  been  greatly 
misinformed,  if  there  be  not  another,  though  a very  different 
class,  who  consider  these  exertions  a subject  for  ridicule. 
Perhaps  it  may  tend  somewhat  to  arouse  the  apathy  of  the 
one  party,  as  well  as  to  moderate  the  contempt  of  the  other, 
if  we  can  show  that  this  very  missionary  cause  combines 
within  itself  the  elements  of  all  that  is  sublime  in  human 
purpose,  nay,  combines  them  in  a loftier  perfection  than 
any  other  enterprise,  which  was  ever  linked  with  the  desti- 
nies of  man.  To  show  this  will  be  our  design ; and  in 
prosecuting  it,  we  shall  direct  your  attention  to  the  grand- 
eur of  the  object;  the  arduousness  of  its  execution;  and 
the  nature  of  the  means  on  which  we  rely  for  success. 

1st.  The  grandeur  of  the  orject.  In  the  most 
enlarged  sense  of  the  terms,  The  Field  is  the  Jt’orld.  Our 
design  is  radically  to  affect  the  temporal  and  eternal  inter- 


9 


e9ts  of  the  whole  race  of  man.  We  have  surveyed  this  field 
statistically,  and  find,  that  of  the  eight  hundred  millions 
who  inhabit  our  globe,  but  two  hundred  millions  have  any 
knowledge  of  the  religion  ol  Jesus  Christ.  Ot  these,  we 
are  willing  to  allow  that  but  one  half  are  his  real  disciples, 
and  that  therefore  there  are  seven  of  the  eight  hundred 
millions  to  whom  the  gospel  must  be  sent. 

We  have  surveyed  this  field  geographically.  We  have 
looked  upon  our  own  continent,  and  have  seen  that,  with 
the  exception  of  a narrow  strip  of  thinly  settled  country, 
from  the  gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  to  the  mouth  of  the  Missi- 
sippi,  the  whole  of  this  new  world  lieth  in  wickedness. 
Hordes  of  ruthless  savages  roam  the  wilderness  of  the 
West,  and  men  almost  as  ignorant  of  the  spirit  of  the  gos- 
pel, are  struggling  for  independence  in  the  South. 

We  have  looked  over  Europe,  and  behold  there  one  na- 
tion putting  forth  her  energies  in  the  cause  of  evangelizing 
the  world.  We  have  looked  for  another  such  nation;  but 
it  is  not  to  be  found.  A few  others  are  beginning  to  awake. 
Most  of  them,  however,  yet  slumber.  Many  are  them- 
selves in  need  of  missionaries.  Nay,  we  know  not  but  the 
movement  of  the  cause  of  man  in  Europe  is  at  present 
retrograde.  There  seems  too  evidently  a coalition  formed 
of  the  powers  that  be,  to  check  the  progress  of  moral  and 
intellectual  improvement,  and  to  rivet  again  on  the  human 
mind  the  manacles  of  papal  superstition.  God  only  knows 
how  soon  the  re-action  will  commence,  which  shall  shake 
the  continent  to  its  centre,  scatter  thrones  and  sceptres  and 
all  the  insignia  of  prescriptive  authority,  like  the  dust  of 
the  summer’s  threshing  floor,  and  establish  throughout  the 
Christian  world  representative  governments,  on  the  broad 
basis  of  common  sense  and  inalienable  right. 

We  have  looked  over  Africa,  and  have  seen  that  upon 
one  little  portion,  reclaimed  from  brutal  idolatry  by  mis- 
sionaries, the  Sun  of  Righteousness  has  shined.  It  is  a 
land  of  Goshen,  where  they  have  light  in  their  dwellings. 
Upon  all  the  remainder  of  this  vast  continent,  there  broods 
amoral  darkness,  impervious  as  that  which  once  veiled  her 
own  Egypt,  on  that  prolonged  and  fearful  night  when  no 
man  knew  his  brother. 


£> 


10 


We  have  looked  upon  Asia,  and  have  seen  its  northern 
nations,  though  under  the  government  of  a Christian  prince, 
scarcely  nominally  Christian.  On  the  West,  it  is  spell- 
bound by  Mohammedan  delusion.  To  the  South,  from  the 
Persian  gulf,  to  the  sea  of  Kamschatka,  including  also  its 
numberless  islands,  except  where  here  and  there,  a Syrian 
church,  or  a missionary  station  twinkles  amidst  the  gloom ; 
the  whole  of  this  immense  portion  of  the  human  race  is  sit- 
ting in  the  region  and  shadow  of  death.  Such  then  is  the 
field  for  our  exertion.  It  encircles  the  whole  family  of 
man,  it  includes  every  unevangelized  being  of  the  species 
to  which  we  belong.  We  have  thus  surveyed  the  mission- 
ary field,  that  we  may  know  how  great  is  the  undertaking 
to  which  we  stand  committed. 

W e have  also  made  an  estimate  of  the  miseries  of  this 
world.  We  have  seen  how  in  many  places  the  human 
mind,  shackled  by  ignorance  and  enfeebled  by  vice,  has 
dwindled  almost  to  the  standard  of  a brute.  Our  indigna- 
tion has  kindled  at  hearing  of  men  immortal  as  ourselves, 
bowing  down  and  worshipping  a wandering  beggar,  or  pay- 
ing adoration  to  reptiles  and  to  stones. 

Not  only  is  intellect  every  where  under  the  dominion 
of  idolatry  prostrated ; beyond  the  boundaries  of  Christ- 
endom, on  every  side  the  dark  places  of  the  earth  are  filled 
with  the  habitations  of  cruelty.  We  have  mourned  over 
the  savage  ferocity  of  the  Indians  of  our  western  wilderness. 
We  have  turned  to  Africa,  and  seen  almost  the  whole  con- 
tinent a prey  to  lawless  banditti,  or  else  bowing  down  in 
the  most  revolting  idolatry.  We  have  descended  along 
her  coast,  and  beheld  villages  burnt  or  depopulated,  fields 
laid  waste,  and  her  people,  who  have  escaped  destruction, 
naked  and  famishing,  flee  to  their  forests  at  the  sight  of  a 
stranger.  We  have  asked,  What  fearful  visitation  of  Heaven 
has  laid  these  settlements  in  ruins  ? What  destroying  pes- 
tilence has  swept  over  this  land,  consigning  to  oblivion 
almost  its  entire  population  ? What  mean  the  smoking 
ruins  of  so  many  habitations  P And  why  is  yon  fresh  sod 
crimsoned  and  slippery  with  the  traces  of  recent  murder? 
We  have  been  pointed  to  the  dark  slave-ship  hovering  over 
her  coast,  and  have  been  told  that  two  hundred  thousand 
defenceless  beings  are  annually  stolen  away,  to  be  murder- 


11 


ed  on  their  passage,  or  consigned  for  life  to  a captivity 
more  terrible  than  death  ! 

We  have  turned  to  Asia,  and  beheld  how  the  demon  ol 
her  idolatry  has  worse  than  debased,  has  brutalized  tire 
mind  of  man.  Every  where  his  despotism  has  been  griev- 
ous ; here,  with  merciless  tyranny,  he  has  exulted  in  the 
misery  of  his  victims.  He  has  rent  from  the  human  heart 
all  that  was  endearing  in  the  charities  of  life.  He  has 
tausrht  the  mother  to  tear  awav  the  infant  as  it  smiled  in 
her  bosom,  and  cast  it,  the  shrieking  prey,  to  contending 
alligators.  He  has  taught  the  son  to  light  the  funeral  pile, 
and  to  witness  unmoved,  the  dying  agonies  of  his  widowed, 
murdered  mother ! 

We  have  looked  upon  all  tliis ; and  our  object  is,  to 
purify  the  whole  earth  from  these  abominations.  Our 
object  will  not  have  been  accomplished  till  the  tomahawk 
shall  be  buried  forever,  and  the  tree  of  peace  spread  its 
broad  branches  from  the  Atlantick  to  the  Pacifick ; until  a 
thousand  smiling  villages  shall  be  reflected  from  the  waves 
of  the  Missouri,  and  the  distant  valleys  of  the  "West  echo 
with  the  song  of  the  reaper;  till  the  wilderness  and  the 
solitary  place  shall  have  been  glad  for  us,  and  the  desert 
has  rejoiced  and  blossomed  as  the  rose. 

Our  labours  are  not  to  cease,  until  the  last  slave-ship 
shall  have  visited  the  coast  of  Africa,  and,  the  nations  of 
Europe  and  America  having  long  since  redressed  her  aggra- 
vated wrongs,  Ethiopia,  from  the  Mediterranean  to  the 
Cape,  shall  have  stretched  forth  her  hand  unto  God. 

How  changed  will  then  be  the  face  of  Asia  ! Bramins 
and  sooders  and  casts  and  shasters  will  have  passed  away, 
like  the  mist  which  rolls  up  the  mountain’s  side  before  the 
rising  glories  of  a summer’s  morning,  while  the  land  on 
which  it  rested,  shining  forth  in  all  its  loveliness,  shall, 
from  its  numberless  habitations,  send  forth  the  high  praises 
of  God  and  the  Lamb.  The  Hindoo  mother  will  gaze 
upon  her  infant  with  the  same  tenderness  which  throbs  in 
the  breast  of  any  one  of  you  who  now  hears  me,  and  the 
Hindoo  son  wall  pour  into  the  wounded  bosom  of  his  widow- 
ed parent,  the  oil  of  peace  and  consolation. 

In  a word,  point  us  to  the  loveliest  village  that  smiles 
upon  a Scottish  or  New-England  landscape,  and  compare 


12 


it  with  the  filthiness  and  brutality  of  a Caffrarian  kraal, 
and  we  tell  you  that  our  object  is  to  render  that  Caffrarian 
kraal  as  happy  and  as  gladsome  as  that  Scottish  or  New- 
England  village.  Point  us  to  the  spot  on  the  face  of  the 
earth,  where  liberty  is  best  understood  and  most  perfectly 
enjoyed,  where  intellect  shoots  forth  in  its  richest  luxuri- 
ance, and  where  all  the  kindlier  feelings  of  the  heart  are  con- 
stantly seen  in  their  most  graceful  exercise  ; point  us  to  the 
loveliest  and  happiest  neighbourhood  in  the  world  on  which 
we  dwell ; and  we  tell  you  that  our  object  is  to  render  this 
whole  earth,  with  all  its  nations  and  kindreds  and  tongues 
and  people,  as  happy,  nay,  happier  than  that  neighbourhood. 

We  have  considered  these  beings  as  immortal,  and  can- 
didates for  an  eternity  of  happiness  or  misery.  And  we 
cannot  avoid  the  belief  that  they  are  exposed  to  eternal 
misery.  Here  you  will  observe  the  question  with  us  is  not, 
whether  a heathen,  unlearned  in  the  gospel,  can  be  saved. 
We  are  willing  to  admit  that  he  may.  But  if  he  be  saved, 
he  must  possess  holiness  of  heart ; for  without  holiness  no 
man  shall  see  the  Lord.  And  where  shall  we  find  holy 
heathen  ? Where  is  there  the  vestige  of  purity  of  heart 
amomj  unevangelized  nations  ? It  is  in  vain  to  talk  about 
the  innocence  of  these  children  of  nature.  It  is  in  vain  to 
tell  us  of  their  graceful  mythology.  Their  gods  are  such 
as  lust  makes  welcome.  Of  their  very  religious  services, 
it  is  a shame  even  to  speak.  To  settle  the  question  con- 
cerning their  future  destiny,  it  would  only  seem  necessary 
to  ask,  What  would  be  the  character  of  that  future  state, 
in  which  those  principles  of  heart  which  the  whole  history 
of  the  heathen  world  develops,  were  suffered  to  operate  in 
their  unrestrained  malignity  ? 

No  ! solemn  as  is  the  thought,  we  do  believe,  that  dying 
in  their  present  state,  they  will  be  exposed  to  all  that  is 
awful  in  the  wrath  of  Almighty  God.  And  we  do  believe 
that  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten 
Son,  that  whosoever  bclieveth  on  him  should  not  perish, 
but  have  everlasting  life.  Our  object  is  to  convey  to  those 
who  are  perishing  the  news  of  this  salvation.  It  is  to  furnish 
every  family  upon  the  face  of  the  whole  earth  with  the 
word  of  God  written  in  its  own  language,  and  to  send  tp. 


13 

every  neighbourhood  a preacher  of  the  cross  of  Christ.  Our 
object  will  not  be  accomplished  until  every  idol  temple 
shall  have  been  utterly  abolished,  and  a temple  to  Jehovah 
erected  in  its  room ; until  this  earth,  instead  of  being  a 
theatre  on  which  immortal  beings  are  preparing  by  crime  for 
eternal  condemnation,  shall  become  one  universal  temple, 
in  which  the  children  of  men  are  learning  the  anthems  of 
the  blessed  above,  and  becoming  meet  to  join  the  general 
assembly  and  church  of  the  first  born,  whose  names  are 
written  in  heaven.  Our  design  will  not  be  completed  until 

“One  song  employs  all  nations,  and  all  cry 
Woithy  the  Lamb,  for  he  was  slam  for  us; 

The  dwellers  iu  the  vales,  and  on  the  rocks 
Shout  to  each  other,  and  the  mountain  tops 
From  distant  mountains  catch  the  (lying  joy; 

Till,  nation  after  nation  taught  the  strain, 

Karth  rolls  the  rapturous  husanna  round." 

The  object  of  the  missionary  enterprise  embraces  every 
child  of  Adam.  It  is  vast  as  the  race  to  whom  its  opera- 
tions are  of  necessity  limited.  It  would  confer  upon  every 
individual  on  earth,  all  that  intellectual  or  moral  cultivation 
can  bestow.  It  would  rescue  a world  from  the  indignation 
and  wrath,  tribulation  and  anguish  reserved  for  every  son 
of  man  that  doeth  evil,  and  give  it  a title  to  glory,  honour, 
and  immortality.  You  see,  then,  that  our  object  is,  not 
only  to  affect  every  individual  of  the  species,  but  to  affect 
him  in  the  momentous  extremes  of  infinite  happiness  and 
infinite  wo.  And  now  we  ask,  What  object  ever  under- 
taken by  man  can  compare  with  this  same  design  of  evan- 
gelizing the  world  P Patriotism  itself  fades  away  before  it, 
and  acknowledges  the  supremacy  of  an  enterprise,  which 
seizes,  with  so  strong  a grasp,  upon  both  the  temporal  and 
eternal  destinies  of  the  whole  family  of  man. 

But  all  this  is  not  to  be  accomplished  without  laborious 
exertion.  Hence  we  remark, 

2d.  The  missionary  undertaking  is  arduous 

ENOUGH  TO  CALL  INTO  ACTION  THE  NOBLEST  ENERGIES 
OF  MAN. 

Its  arduousness  is  explained  in  one  word,  our  Field  is 
the  World.  Our  object  is  to  effect  an  entire  moral  revolu- 
tion in  the  whole  human  race.  Its  arduousness  then  re- 
sults of  necessity  from  its  magnitude. 


14 


1 need  not  say  to  an  audience  acquainted  with  the 
nature  of  the  human  mind,  that  a large  moral  mass  is  not 
easily  and  permanently  affected.  A little  leaven  does  not 
soon  leaven  the  whole  lump.  To  produce  a change  even 
of  speculative  opinion  upon  a single  nation,  is  an  undertak- 
ing not  easily  accomplished.  In  the  case  before  us,  not  a 
nation,  but  a world  is  to  be  regenerated : therefore  the 
change  which  we  would  effect  is  far  from  being  merely 
speculative.  If  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a new  creature. 
Nothing  short  of  this  new  creation  will  answer  our  purpose. 
We  go  forth  not  to  persuade  men  to  turn  from  one  idol  to 
another,  but  to  turn  universally  from  idols  to  serve  the 
living  God.  We  call  upon  those  who  are  earthly,  sensual, 
devilish,  to  set  their  affections  on  things  above.  We  go 
forth  exhorting  men  to  forsake  every  cherished  lust,  and 
present  themselves  a living  sacrifice,  holy  and  acceptable 
unto  God.  And  this  mighty  moral  revolution  is  to  be 
effected,  not  in  a family,  a tribe,  or  a nation,  but  in  a 
world  which  lieth  in  wickedness. 

We  have  to  operate  upon  a race  divided  into  different 
nations,  speaking  a thousand  different  languages,  under 
every  different  form  of  government  from  absolute  inertness 
to  unbridled  tyranny,  and  inhabiting  every  district  of  coun- 
try, salubrious  or  deadly,  from  the  equator  to  the  poles. 
To  all  these  nations  must  the  gospel  be  sent,  into  all  these 
languages  must  the  Bible  be  translated,  to  all  these  climes, 
salubrious  or  deadly,  must  the  missionary  penetrate,  and 
under  all  these  forms  of  government,  mild  or  despotick, 
must  he  preach  Christ  and  him  crucified. 

Besides,  we  shall  frequently  interfere  with  the  more 
sordid  interests  of  men  ; and  we  expect  them  to  increase 
the  difficulties  of  our  undertaking.  If  we  can  turn  the 
heathen  to  God,  many  a source  of  unholy  traffick  will  be 
dried  up,  and  many  a convenience  of  unhallowed  gratifi- 
cation taken  away.  And  hence  we  may  expect  that  the 
traffickers  in  human  flesh,  the  disciples  of  mammon,  and 
the  devotees  of  pleasure,  will  be  against  us.  From  the 
heathen  themselves  we  have  the  blackest  darkness  of  igno- 
rance to  dispel.  We  have  to  assault  systems  venerable  for 
their  antiquity,  and  interwoven  with  every  thing  that  is 
proud  in  a nation’s  history.  Above  all,  we  have  to  oppose 


15 


the  depravity  of  the  human  heart,  grown  still  more  invete- 
rate by  ages  of  continuance  in  unrestrained  iniquity.  In  a 
word,  we  go  forth  to  urge  upon  a world  dead  in  trespasses 
and  sins,  a thorough  renewal  of  heart,  and  an  universal 
reformation  of  practice. 

Brief  as  is  this  view  of  the  difficulties  which  surround 
us,  and  time  will  not  allow  us  to  state  them  more  in  detail, 
you  see  that  our  undertaking  is,  as  we  said,  arduous  enough 
to  task  to  the  uttermost  the  noblest  energies  of  man. 

This  enterprise  requires  consummate  wisdom  in  the 
missionary  who  goes  abroad,  as  well  as  in  those  who  man- 
age the  concerns  of  a society  at  home.  He  who  goes  forth 
unprotected,  to  preach  Christ  to  despotick  or  badly  gov- 
erned nations,  must  be  wise  as  a serpent,  and  harmless  as 
a dove.  With  undeviating  firmness  upon  every  thing  es- 
sential, he  must  combine  the  most  yielding  facility  upon 
all  that  is  unimportant.  And  thus  w hile  he  goes  forth  in 
the  spirit  and  power  of  Elias,  he  must  at  the  same  time 
become  all  things  to  all  men,  that  by  all  means  he  may 
gain  some.  Great  abilities  are  also  required  in  him  who 
conducts  the  mission  at  home.  He  must  awaken,  animate, 
and  direct  the  sentiments  of  a very  large  portion  of  the 
community  in  which  he  resides,  whilst  at  the  same  time, 
through  a hundred  different  agents,  he  is  exerting  a power- 
ful influence  upon  half  as  many  nations  a thousand  or  ten 
thousand  miles  off.  Indeed  it  is  hazarding  nothing  to  pre- 
dict, that  if  efforts  for  the  extension  of  the  gospel  continue 
to  multiply  with  their  present  ratio  of  increase,  as  great 
abilities  will,  in  a few  years,  be  required  for  transacting 
the  business  of  a missionary  society,  as  for  conducting  the 
affairs  of  a political  cabinet. 

The  missionary  undertaking  calls  for  perseverance ; a 
perseverance  of  that  character,  which,  having  once  formed 
its  purpose,  never  wavers  from  it  till  death.  And  if  ever 
this  attribute  has  been  so  exhibited  as  to  challenge  the 
respect  of  every  man  of  feeling,  it  has  been  in  such  instan- 
ces as  are  recorded  in  the  history  of  the  missions  to  Green- 
land and  to  the  South  Sea  Islands,  where  w'e  beheld  men, 
for  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  suffer  every  thing  but  martyr- 
dom, and  then,  seeing  no  fruit  from  their  labour,  resolve 


16 


to  labour  on  till  death,  if  so  be  they  might  at  last,  save  one 
benighted  heathen  from  the  error  of  his  ways. 

This  undertaking  calls  for  self  denial  of  the  highest  and 
holiest  character.  He  who  engages  in  it  must,  at  the  very 
outset,  dismiss  every  wish  to  stipulate  for  any  thing  but 
the  mere  favour  of  God.  His  first  act  is  a voluntary  exile 
from  all  that  a refined  education  loves ; and  every  other 
act  must  be  in  unison  with  this.  The  salvation  of  the  hea- 
then is  the  object  for  which  he  sacrifices,  and  is  willing  to 
sacrifice,  every  thing  that  the  heart  clings  to  on  earth. 
For  this  object  he  would  live ; for  this  he  would  die ; nay, 
he  would  live  any  where,  and  die  any  how,  if  so  be  he 
might  rescue  one  soul  from  everlasting  wo. 

Hence  you  see  that  this  undertaking  requires  courage. 
It  is  not  the  courage  which,  wrought  up  by  the  stimulus  of 
popular  applause,  can  rush  now  and  then  upon  the  can- 
non’s mouth ; it  is  the  courage  which,  alone  and  unap- 
plauded, will,  year  after  year,  look  death,  every  moment, 
in  the  face,  and  never  shrink  from  its  purpose.  It  is  a 
principle  which  will  “ make  a man  intrepidly  dare  every 
thing  which  can  attack  or  oppose  him  within  the  whole 
sphere  of  mortality,  retain  his  purpose  unshaken  amidst 
the  ruins  of  the  world,  and  press  toward  his  object  while 
death  is  impending  over  him.”*  Such  was  the  spirit  which 
spake  by  the  mouth  of  an  Apostle  when  he  said,  And  now 
I go  bound  in  the  spirit  unto  Jerusalem,  not  knowing  the 
things  which  shall  befal  me  there ; save  that  the  Holy 
Ghost  witnesseth  in  every  city,  saying  that  bonds  and 
afflictions  abide  me.  Y et  none  of  these  things  move  me  ; 
neither  count  I my  life  dear  unto  myself,  so  that  I may 
finish  my  course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  I have 
received  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

But  above  all,  the  missionary  undertaking  requires 
faith,  in  its  holiest  and  sublimest  exercise.  And  let  it  not 
be  supposed  that  we  speak  at  random,  when  we  mention 
the  sublimity  of  faith.  “ Whatever,”  says  the  British 
moralist,  “withdraws  us  from  the  power  of  the  senses; 
whatever  makes  the  past,  the  distant,  or  the  future  pre- 
dominate over  the  present,  advances  us  in  the  dignity  of 
thinking  beings.  ”t  And  when  we  speak  of  faith,  we  refer 

• Foster.  t Tour  to  the  Hebrides.  Iona. 


17 


to  a principle  which  gives  substance  to  things  hoped  for,  and 
evidence  to  tilings  not  seen;  which,  bending  her  keen  glance 
on  the  eternal  weight  of  glory,  makes  it  a constant  motive  to 
holy  enterprise  ; which,  fixing  her  eagle  eye  upon  the  infinite 
of  future,  makes  it  bear  right  well  upon  the  purposes  of  to-day; 
a principle  which  enables  a poor  feeble  tenant  of  the  dust  to 
take  strong  hold  upon  the  perfections  of  Jehovah ; and,  fast* 
ening  his  hopes  to  the  very  throne  of  the  Eternal,  “ bid  earth 
roll,  nor  feel  its  idle  whirl.”  This  principle  is  the  unfailing 
support  of  the  missionary  through  the  long  years  of  his  toil- 
some pilgrimage  ; and,  when  he  is  compared  with  the  heroes 
of  this  world,  it  is  peculiar  to  him.  By  as  much  then  as  the 
Christian  enterprise  calls  into  being  this  one  principle,  the 
noblest  that  can  attach  to  the  character  of  a creature,  by  so 
much  does  its  execution  surpass  in  sublimity  every  other. 

3d.  Let  us  consider  the  means  by  which  this  moral 
revolution  is  to  be  EFFECTED.  It  is,  in  a word,  by  the 
preaching  of  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified.  It  is  by  going 
forth  and  telling  the  lost  children  of  men,  that  God  so  loved 
the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  !Son  to  die  for  them  ; 
and  by  all  the  eloquence  of  such  an  appeal,  to  entreat  them, 
for  Christ’s  sake,  to  be  reconciled  unto  God.  This  is  the  lever 
by  which,  we  believe,  the  moral  universe  is  to  be  raised ; this 
is  the  instrument  by  which  a sinful  world  is  to  be  regenerated. 

And  consider  the  commanding  simplicity  of  this  means, 
devised  by  Omniscience  to  effect  a purpose  so  glorious.  This 
world  is  to  be  restored  to  more  than  it  lost  by  the  fall,  by  the 
simple  annunciation  of  the  loveof  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  Here 
we  behold  means  apparently  the  weakest,  employed  to  effect 
the  most  magnificent  of  purposes.  And  how  plainly  does  this 
bespeak  the  agency  of  the  omnipotent  God.  The  means  which 
effect  his  greatest  purposes  in  the  kingdom  of  nature,  are 
simple  and  unostentatious ; w hile  those  which  man  employs 
are  complicated  and  tumultuous.  How  many  intellects  are 
tasked,  howr  many  hands  are  wearied,  how  many  arts  exhaust- 
ed in  preparing  for  the  event  of  a single  battle;  and  how 
great  is  the  tumult  of  the  moment  of  decision.  In  all  this, 
man  only  imitates  the  inferior  agents  of  nature.  The  autum- 
nal tempest,  whose  sphere  of  action  is  limited  to  a little  spot 
upon  our  little  wrorld,  comes  forth  attended  by  the  roar  of 


18 


thunder  and  the  Hash  of  lightning ; while  the  attraction  of 
gravitation,  that  stupendous  force  which  binds  together  the 
mighty  masses  of  the  material  universe,  acts  silently.  In 
the  sublimest  of  natural  transactions,  the  greatest  result  is 
ascribed  to  the  simplest,  the  most  unique  of  causes.  He 
spake  and  it  was  done ; he  commanded  and  it  stood  fast. 

Contemplate  the  benevolence  of  these  means.  In  prac- 
tice, the  precepts  of  the  gospel  may  be  summed  up  in  the  sin- 
gle command,  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy 
heart,  and  thy  neighbour  as  thyself.  We  expect  to  teach 
one  man  obedience  to  this  command,  and  that  he  will  feel 
obliged  to  teach  his  neighbour,  who  will  feel  obliged  to  teach 
others,  who  are  again  to  become  teachers,  until  the  whole 
world  shall  be  peopled  with  one  family  of  brethren.  Animos- 
ity is  to  be  done  away  by  inculcating  universally  the  obliga- 
tion of  love.  In  this  manner  we  expect  to  teach  rulers  jus- 
tice, and  subjects  submission;  to  open  the  heart  of  the  miser, 
and  unloose  the  grasp  of  the  oppressor.  It  is  thus  we  expect 
the  time  to  be  hastened  onward  when  men  shall  beat  their 
swords  into  ploughshares,  and  their  spears  into  pruning  hooks; 
when  nation  shall  no  more  lift  up  sword  against  nation,  neither 
shall  they  learn  war  any  more. 

With  this  process,  compare  the  means  by  which  men,  on 
the  principles  of  this  world,  effect  a melioration  in  the  con- 
dition of  their  species.  Their  almost  universal  agent  is, 
threatened  or  inflicted  misery.  And,  from  the  nature  of  the 
case,  it  cannot  be  otherwise.  Without  altering  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  heart,  they  only  attempt  to  control  its  exercise. 
And  they  must  control  it  by  showing  their  power  to  make  the 
indulgence  of  that  disposition  the  source  of  more  misery  than 
happiness.  Hence  when  men  confer  a benefit  upon  a portion 
of  their  brethren,  it  is  generally  preceded  by  a protracted 
struggle  to  decide  which  can  inflict  most,  or  which  can  suf- 
fer longest.  Hence  the  arm  of  the  patriot  is  generally  and 
of  necessity  bathed  in  blood.  Hence  with  the  shouts  of  vic- 
tory from  the  nation  he  has  delivered,  there  arises  also  the 
sigh  of  the  widow,  and  the  weeping  of  the  orphan.  Man  pro- 
duces good  by  the  apprehension  or  the  infliction  of  evil.  The 
gospel  produces  good  by  the  universal  diffusion  of  the  princi- 
ples of  benevolence.  In  the  former  case,  one  party  must 
generally  suffer;  in  the  latter,  all  parties  are  certainly  more 


19 


happy.  The  one,  like  the  mountain  torrent,  may  fertilize 
now  and  then  a valley  beneath,  but  not  until  it  has  wildly 
swept  away  the  forest  above,  and  disfigured  the  lovely 
landscape  with  many  an  unseemly  scar.  Not  so  the  other; 

u It  droppeth  as  the  gentle  vain  from  heaven 
Upon  the  place  beneath ; it  is  t»ice  blt  vs'd. 

It  blcssetli  him  that  gives,  and  him  that  takes.” 

Consider  the  efficacy  of  these  means.  The  reasons 
which  teach  us  to  rely  upon  them  with  confidence  may 
be  thus  briefly  stated. 

1.  We  see  that  all  which  is  really  terrific  in  the  mis- 
ery of  man  results  from  the  disease  of  his  moral  nature. 
If  this  can  be  healed,  man  may  be  restored  to  happiness. 
Now  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  is  the  remedy  devised  by 
Omniscience  specifically  for  this  purpose,  and  therefore  we 
do  certainly  know  that  it  will  inevitably  succeed. 

2.  It  is  easy  to  be  seen,  that  the  universal  obedience 
to  the  command,  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with 
all  thy  heart,  and  thy  neighbour  as  thyself,  would  make 
this  world  a heaven.  But  nothing  other  than  the  gospel  of 
Christ  can  persuade  men  to  this  obedience.  Reason  cannot 
do  it ; philosophy  cannot  do  it ; civilization  cannot  do  it. 
The  cross  of  Christ  alone  has  power  to  bend  the  stubborn 
will  to  obedience,  and  melt  the  frozen  heart  to  love.  For, 
said  one  who  had  experienced  its  efficacy,  the  love  of  Christ 
constraineth  us,  because  we  thus  judge,  that  if  one  died 
for  all,  then  were  all  dead;  and  that  he  died  for  all,  that 
they  which  live  should  not  live  to  themselves,  but  unto 
Him  who  died  for  them,  and  rose  again. 

3.  The  preaching  of  the  cross  of  Christ  is  a remedy 
for  the  miseries  of  the  fall  which  has  been  tested  by  the 
experience  of  eighteen  hundred  years,  and  has  never  in  a 
single  instance  failed.  Its  efficacy  has  been  proved  by 
human  beings  of  all  ages,  from  the  lisping  infant  to  the 
sinner  an  hundred  years  old.  All  climates  have  witnessed 
its  power.  From  the  ice-bound  cliffs  of  Greenland  to  the 
banks  of  the  voluptuous  Ganges,  the  simple  story  of  Christ 
crucified,  has  turned  men  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from 
the  power  of  Satan  unto  God.  Its  effect  has  been  the 
same  with  men  of  the  most  dissimilar  conditions ; from  the 
abandoned  inhabitant  of  Newgate,  to  the  dweller  in  the 


20 


palaces  of  kings.  It  has  been  equally  sovereign  amidst 
the  scattered  inhabitants  of  the  forest  and  the  crowded 
population  of  the  densest  metropolis.  Every  where  and  at 
all  times  it  has  been  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  to 
every  one  that  believeth. 

4.  And  lastly,  we  know  from  the  word  of  the  living 
God,  that  it  will  be  successful,  until  this  whole  world  has 
been  redeemed  from  the  effects  of  man’s  first  disobedience. 
As  truly  as  I live,  saith  Jehovah,  all  the  earth  shall  be 
filled  with  the  glory  of  the  Lord.  Ask  of  me,  saith  he  to 
his  Son,  and  I will  give  thee  the  heathen  for  thine  inherit- 
ance, and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  thy  posses- 
sion. In  the  Revelation  which  he  gave  to  his  servant  John 
of  things  which  should  shortly  come  to  pass ; I heard,  said 
the  Apostle,  great  voices  in  heaven,  saying,  The  kingdoms 
of  this  world  are  become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord,  and  of 
his  Christ,  and  he  shall  reign  forever  and  ever.  Here  then 
is  the  ground  of  our  unwavering  confidence.  Heaven  and 
earth  shall  pass  away,  but  one  jot  or  one  tittle  shall  in  no 
wise  pass  from  the  word  of  God,  until  all  be  fulfilled. 
Such,  then,  are  the  means  on  which  we  rely  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  our  object,  and  such  the  grounds  upon  which 
we  rest  our  confidence  of  success. 

And  nowr,  my  hearers,  deliberately  consider  the  nature 
of  the  missionary  enterprise.  Reflect  upon  the  dignity  of 
its  object ; the  high  moral  and  intellectual  powers  which 
are  to  be  called  forth  in  its  execution ; the  simplicity,  be- 
nevolence, and  efficacy  of  the  means  by  which  all  this  is  to 
be  achieved  ; and  we  ask  you,  Does  not  every  other  enter- 
prise to  which  man  ever  put  forth  his  strength  dwindle  into 
insignificance,  before  that  of  preaching  Christ  crucified  to  a 
lost  and  perishing  world  ? 

Engaged  in  such  an  object,  and  supported  by  such 
assurances,  you  may  readily  suppose,  we  can  very  well 
bear  the  contempt  of  those  who  would  point  at  us  the  fin- 
ger of  scorn.  It  is  written,  In  the  last  days  there  shall  be 
scoffers.  We  regret  that  it  should  be  so.  We  regret  that 
men  should  oppose  an  enterprise,  of  which  the  chief  object 
is,  to  turn  sinners  unto  holiness.  We  pify  them,  and  we 
will  pray  for  them.  For  we  consider  their  situation  far 
other  than  enviable.  We  recollect  that  it  was  once  sard 


21 


by  the  Divine  Missionary,  to  the  first  band  which  he  com- 
missioned, He  that  despiseth  you,  despiseth  me,  and  he 
that  despiseth  me,  despiseth  him  that  sent  me.  So  that 
this  very  contempt  may  at  last,  involve  them  in  a contro- 
versy infinitely  more  serious  than  they  at  present  antici- 
pate. The  reviler  of  missions,  and  the  missionary  of  the 
cross,  must  both  stand  before  the  judgment  seat  of  Him 
who  said,  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel 
to  every  creature.  It  is  affecting  to  think,  that  whilst  the 
one,  surrounded  by  the  nation  who,  through  his  instrumen- 
tality, have  been  rescued  from  everlasting  death,  shall  re- 
ceive the  plaudit,  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servants 
the  other  may  be  numbered  with  those  despisers  who  won- 
der and  perish.  O that  they  might  know,  even  in  this  their 
day,  the  things  which  belong  to  their  peace,  before  they 
are  hidden  from  their  eves! 

J 

You  can  also  easily  perceive  how  it  is  that  we  are  not 
9oon  disheartened  by  those  who  tell  us  of  the  difficulties, 
nay,  the  hopelessness,  of  our  undertaking.  They  may  point 
us  to  countries  once  the  seat  of  the  church,  now  overspread 
with  Mohammedan  delusion  ; or,  bidding  us  look  at  nations 
who  once  believed  as  we  do,  now  contending  for  what  we 
consider  fatal  error,  they  may  assure  us  that  our  cause  is 
declining.  To  all  this  we  have  two  answers.  First,  the 
assumption  that  our  cause  is  declining,  is  utterly  gratuitous. 
We  think  it  not  difficult  to  prove,  that  the  distinctive  prin- 
ciples we  so  much  venerate,  never  swayed  so  powerful  an 
influence  over  the  destinies  of  the  human  race  as  at  this 
very  moment.  Point  us  to  those  nations  of  the  earth  to 
whom  moral  and  intellectual  cultivation,  inexhaustible 
resources,  progress  in  arts,  and  sagacity  in  council,  have 
assigned  the  highest  rank  in  political  importance,  and  you 
point  us  to  nations  whose  religious  opinions  are  most  closely 
allied  to  those  we  cherish.  Besides,  when  was  there  a 
period,  since  the  days  of  the  Apostles,  in  which  so  many 
converts  have  been  made  to  these  principles,  as  have  been 
made,  both  from  Christian  and  Pagan  nations,  within  the 
last  five  and  twenty  years  ? Never  did  the  people  of  ihe 
saints  of  the  Most  High  look  so  much  like  going  forth  in 
serious  earnest,  to  take  possession  of  the  kingdom  and  do- 
minion, and  the  greatness  of  the  kingdom  under  the  whole 


22 


heaven,  as  at  this  very  day.  We  see,  then,  nothing  in  the 
signs  of  the  times  which  forebodes  a failure,  but  every  thing 
which  promises  that  our  undertaking  will  prosper.  But 
secondly,  suppose  the  cause  did  seem  declining  ; we  should 
see  no  reason  to  relax  our  exertions,  for  Jesus  Christ  has 
said,  Preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature.  Appearances, 
whether  prosperous  or  adverse,  alter  not  the  obligation  to 
obey  a positive  command  of  Almighty  God. 

Again,  suppose  all  that  is  affirmed  were  true.  If  it  must 
be,  let  it  be.  Let  the  dark  cloud  of  infidelity  overspread 
Europe,  cross  the  ocean,  and  cover  our  own  beloved  land. 
Let  nation  after  nation  swerve  from  the  faith.  Let  iniquity 
abound,  and  the  love  of  many  wax  cold,  even  until  there  is 
on  the  face  of  this  earth,  but  one  pure  church  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  All  we  ask  is,  that  we  may  be 
members  of  that  one  church.  God  grant  that  we  may  throw 
ourselves  into  this  Thermopylae  of  the  moral  universe. 

But  even  then,  we  should  have  no  fear  that  the  church 
of  God  would  be  exterminated.  We  would  call  to  remem- 
brance the  years  of  the  right  hand  of  the  Most  High.  We 
would  recollect  there  was  once  a time,  when  the  whole 
church  of  Christ,  not  only  could  be,  but  actually  was,  gath- 
ered with  one  accord  in  one  place.  It  was  then  that  that 
place  was  shaken  as  with  a rushing  mighty  wind,  and  they 
were  all  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost.  That  same  day,  three 
thousand  were  added  to  the  Lord.  Soon,  we  hear,  they 
have  filled  Jerusalem  with  their  doctrine.  The  church  has 
commenced  her  march.  Samaria  has  with  one  accord  be- 
lieved the  gospel.  Antioch  lias  become  obedient  to  the 
faith.  The  name  of  Christ  has  been  proclaimed  throughout 
Asia  Minor.  The  temples  of  the  gods,  as  though  smitten 
by  an  invisible  hand,  are  deserted.  The  citizens  of  Ephe- 
sus cry  out  in  despair,  Great  is  Diana  of  the  Ephesians! 
Licentious  Corinth  is  purified  by  the  preaching  of  Christ 
crucified.  Persecution  puts  forth  her  arm  to  arrest  the 
spreading  “superstition.”  But  the  progress  of  the  faith 
cannot  be  stayed.  The  church  of  God  advances  unhurt, 
amidst  racks  and  dungeons,  persecutions  and  death ; yea, 
“smiles  at  the  drawn  dagger,  and  defies  its  point.”  She 
has  entered  Italy,  and  appears  before  the  walls  of  the  Eter- 
nal City.  Idolatry  falls  prostrate  at  her  approach.  Her 


ensign  floats  in  triumph  over  the  capitol.  She  lias  placed 
upon  her  brow  the  diadem  of  the  Ctesars! 

After  having  witnessed  such  successes,  and  under  such 
circumstances,  we  are  not  to  be  moved  by  discouragements. 
To  all  of  them  we  answer,  Our  Field  is  the  World.  The 
more  arduous  the  undertaking,  the  greater  will  be  the  glory. 
And  that  glory  will  be  ours;  for  God  Almighty  is  with  us. 

This  enterprise  of  mercy  the  Son  of  God  came  down 
from  heaven  to  commence,  and  in  commencing  it,  lie  laid 
down  his  life.  To  us  has  he  granted  the  high  privilege  of 
carrying  it  forward.  The  legacy  which  he  left  us,  as  he  was 
ascending  to  his  Father  and  our  Father,  and  to  his  God  and 
to  our  God,  was,  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preacli  the 
gospel  to  every  creature ; and,  lo,  I am  with  you  always, 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.  With  such  an  object 
before  us,  under  such  a Leader,  and  supported  by  such 
promises,  other  motives  to  exertion  are  unnecessary.  Each 
one  of  you  will  anxiously  inquire,  how  he  may  become  a 
co-worker  with  the  Son  of  God,  in  the  glorious  design  of 
rescuing  a world  from  the  miseries  of  the  fall! 

Blessed  be  God,  this  is  a work  in  which  every  one  of 
us  is  permitted  to  do  something.  None  so  poor,  none  so 
weak,  none  so  insignificant,  but  a place  of  action  is  assign- 
ed him ; and  the  cause  expects  every  man  to  do  his  duty. 
We  answer,  then, 

1.  You  may  assist  in  it  by  yrour  prayers.  After  all 
that  we  have  said  about  means,  we  know  that  every  thing 
will  be  in  vain  without  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Paul  may  plant,  and  Apollos  water,  it  is  God  who  giveth 
the  increase.  And  these  influences  are  promised,  and 
promised  alone,  in  answer  to  prayer.  Ye  then  who  love 
the  Lord,  keep  not  silence,  and  give  him  no  rest,  until  he 
establish  and  make  Jerusalem  a praise  in  the  whole  earth. 

2.  You  may  assist  by  your  personal  exertions.  This 
cause  requires  a vigorous,  persevering,  universal  and  sys- 
tematick  effort.  It  requires  that  a spirit  should  pervade 
every  one  of  us,  which  shall  prompt  him  to  ask  himself 
every  morning,  What  can  I do  for  Christ  to-day?  and 
which  should  make  him  feel  humbled  and  ashamed,  if  at 
evening,  he  were  obliged  to  confess  he  had  done  nothing. 
Each  one  of  us  is  as  much  obligated  as  the  missionaries 


24 


themselves,  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  advance  the  common 
cause  of  Christianity.  We,  equally  with  them,  have  em- 
braced that  gospel,  of  which  the  fundamental  principle  is, 
None  of  us  liveth  to  himself.  And  not  only  is  every  one 
bound  to  exert  himself  to  the  uttermost,  the  same  obligation 
rests  upon  us  so  to  direct  our  exertions,  that  each  of  them 
may  produce  the  greatest  effect.  Each  one  of  us  may  influ  - 
ence  others  to  embark  in  the  undertaking.  Each  one  whom 
we  have  influenced,  may  be  induced  to  enlist  that  circle  of 
which  he  is  the  centre,  until  a self-extending  system  of  in- 
tense and  reverberated  action  shall  embody  into  one  invin- 
cible phalanx,  “the  sacramental  host  of  God’s  elect.” 
Awake,  then,  brethren,  from  your  slumbers.  Seek  first  the 
kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness.  And  recollect  that 
what  you  would  do,  must  be  done  quickly.  The  day  is  far 
spent;  the  night  is  at  hand.  Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to 
do,  do  it  with  thy  might ; for  there  is  no  work,  nor  device, 
nor  knowledge,  nor  wisdom  in  the  grave  whither  thou  goest. 

3.  You  may  assist  by  your  pecuniary  contributions. 
An  opportunity  of  this  kind  will  be  presented  this  e' oning. 
And  here,  I trust,  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  in  such  a 
cause  we  consider  it  a privilege  to  give.  How  so  worthily 
can  you  appropriate  a portion  of  that  substance  which  Prov- 
idence has  given  you,  as  in  sending  to  your  fellow  men, 
who  sit  in  the  region  and  shadow  of  death,  a knowledge  of 
the  God  who  made  them,  and  of  Jesus  Christ  whom  he  hath 
sent?  We  pray  you,  so  use  the  mammon  of  unrighteous- 
ness, that  when  ye  fail,  they  may  receive  you  into  everlast- 
ing habitations.  But  I doubt  not  you  already  burn  with 
desire  to  testify  your  love  to  the  crucified  Redeemer.  En- 
throned in  the  high  and  holy  place,  He  looks  down  at  this 
moment  upon  the  heart  of  every  one  of  us,  and  will  accept 
of  your  offering,  though  it  be  but  the  widow’s  mite,  if  it  be 
given  with  the  widow’s  feeling.  In  the  last  day  of  solemn 
account,  he  will  acknow  ledge  it  before  an  assembled  uni 
verse,  saying,  In  as  much  as  ye  did  it  unto  one  of  the  least 
of  these  my  brethren,  ye  did  it  unto  me  ! 

May  God  of  his  grace  enable  us  so  to  act,  that  on  that 
day,  we  may  meet  with  joy  the  record  of  the  doings  of  this 
evening;  and  to  his  name  shall  be  the  glory  in  Christ.  Amot: 


